MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean ruling coalition set to win December election

Chile's ruling coalition presidential candidate Michelle Bachelet is set to win the coming December presidential elections in the first round according to the latest public opinion poll released by Mori.

The opinion poll shows Ms. Bachelet with 45% of the vote, 27 points ahead of the conservative candidates, if elections were held this coming Sunday.

The two opposition conservative candidates, businessman Sebastián Piñera from Renovación Nacional and Joaquín Lavín former mayor of Santiago running for Union Democratica Independiente are tied in 18 points with a third left wing candidate supported by Communists and Humanists, Tomas Hirsch figures with 2%.

Mori's Chile affiliate director Marta Lagos said that these percentages, with just three months to polling day, December 11, anticipate that the former Defence and Public Health minister can win without the need of a run off.

Ms. Lagos added that 82% of interviews admitted having already chosen their December candidate which is a "historic" percentage.

"We're talking of 8 out of 10 people, never before have Chileans decided with such anticipation who they would be voting", stressed Mori's Director.

A total of 1.200 people, over 18, were interviewed in 30 different cities with a population in excess of 40,000 between August 25 and September 2.

The poll also included questions about the two conservative candidates, showing that Mr. Piñera's popularity far exceeds Mr. Lavin, 42 to 28%.

Ms. Lagos said that the poll shows that "a right wing presidential option is collapsing", particularly since both candidates barely reach 36% of the national vote intention.

"The only chance for the conservative candidates is to target their campaign in the newly registered voters, an overwhelming majority of young people, which this year will reach 248.000, "a record number".

Another positive aspect for Ms. Bachelet is that she leads in the credibility race with 38% compared to Mr. Piñera 17% and Mr. Lavin 16%.

Finally a majority of interviews, 49%, replied that a fourth ruling coalition Concertación administration is the "best option and is good for Chile". Besides 59% believe that Ms. Bachelet will be Chile's next president with Lavin and Piñera having an 11% chance.

Since the return of democracy in 1990, Chile has been ruled by a coalition of Socialists and Christian Democrats, the first two mandates with the Socialists as junior partner.

In 2000 president Ricardo Lagos turned the balance in favour of the Socialists, the same party to which Ms. Bachelet belongs.